Roads a death trap for native animals
ALMOST three native animals are being killed by cars on Gold Coast roads every day.
A report to council reveals between 2017 and 2019 more than 3000 native animals were struck by a vehicle.
Wildcare Australia Inc and the Currumbin Wildlife Hospital provided the data on kangaroos, koalas, possums, snakes, turtles, bats, pademelons, bandicoots, frogs, gliders, lizards and echidnas.
A map shows koala kills are worse in the south, around the Currumbin Valley, while most kangaroo fatalities occur just further northwest of the Pacific Motorway.
The Glitter Strip suburbs close to the beaches record only a handful of animal fatalities.
Hinterland councillor Peter Young, an environmentalist, apologised for becoming emotional in an address to the planning committee yesterday, explaining he had just spoken to a traumatised family.
“On the way here an incident with a koala taken away died on its way to Currumbin Wildlife Hospital,” he said.
“I think there is a real sense of urgency about this kind of stuff. We got clear evidence that in three years there were 3000 recorded cases for the species mentioned. That’s nowhere near where the real total probably is – it must be many times that.”
Cr Young received unanimous support about backing a report that could fastforward a trial on new virtual tracking technology, which involves signals and sounds being sent out to warn off animals from roads. He said he was also concerned about accidents involving feral animals like deer in Nerang. “These are big animals. They cause huge impacts and damage to vehicles. There’s probably been loss of life with some of those incidents,” he said.
“I think that we are in the hot spot of southeast Queensand. We live in this incredibly biodiverse city and it’s incumbent upon us to do the very best we can for these creatures who can’t defend themselves, speak for themselves.”
The highest clusters of kangaroo and wallaby vehicle strikes occurred at:
Pine Ridge Rd, Coombabah and Runaway Bay; Currumbin Creek Rd, Currumbin Valley (State controlled); Brisbane Rd (Gold Coast Hwy), Arundel and Coombabah (State controlled); Napper Rd, Arundel and Parkwood; Helensvale Rd, Helensvale; Simpsons Rd, Elanora/Currumbin Waters; Pacific Pines Bld, Pacific Pines.
For koala vehicle strike data, the worst roads were:
Pacific Motorway, Burleigh Heads-PimpamaCoomera (State controlled); Brisbane Rd (Gold Coast Hwy), Helensvale-ArundelCoombabah (State controlled); Tallebudgera Connection Rd, Currumbin Valley-Tallebudgera (State controlled); Smith St, Molendinar-Parkwood-Southport (State controlled); Guineas Creek Rd, Elanora-Tallebudgera; Galleon Way, Currumbin Waters; Captain Cook Dve, Arundel; Simpsons Rd, Elanora-Currumbin Waters; Napper Rd, Parkwood-Arundel; Oxley Dve, Runaway Bay (State controlled).
The council has introduced fauna exclusion fencing and underpasses, static wildlife signage, koala speed awareness devices and community education and awareness messaging.